Members of the Student Senate at Northern Maine Community College hosted their sixth annual “Support Maine Veterans” Volleyball Tournament in April to raise money for the Maine Veterans’ Home in Caribou. Eight teams competed in the tournament, raising a total of $1,200 for the cause.
Members of the Student Senate at Northern Maine Community College recently presented a check of $1,200 to the Maine Veterans’ Home in Caribou. The gift resulted from a community volleyball tournament the student group hosted to raise funds in support of the veterans. Taking part in the check presentation were Wendy Genthner, Student Senate treasurer; Pam Gorneault, Senate member; Alan Punches, NMCC vice president/academic dean; Aaron Conroy, Student Senate president; Jonathan Smith, residential care director at Maine Veterans’ Home in Caribou; Justin Ballou, Senate member; and Dennis Albert, Senate adviser.
“On behalf of Maine Veterans’ Home, our residents and their families, I would like to thank both NMCC and each person who participated in the volleyball games for their donation of time and money,” said Jonathan Smith, residential care director at Maine Veterans’ Home in Caribou, during his recent visit to campus to accept a check from the Student Senate.
“Our mission at MVH is ‘Caring for Those Who Served,’ and one of the ways we do that is by helping our residents live the fullest life they can. This donation will go into the activities fund and will be used to provide activities to promote the physical and mental health and the well-being of our residents. “Again,” he said, “thank you.”
According to Dennis Albert, faculty adviser for the NMCC Student Senate and coordinator of the volleyball tournament, the event is a positive activity for the College as well as Maine Veterans’ Home. “This is a chance for our students, as well as folks from off campus, to have fun while being physically active and raising money for a worthy community cause. Students who take part can feel a sense of accomplishment at having made a difference in the lives of our local veterans.”
Depending on their level of experience, teams competed in either a recreational or competitive league during the volleyball tournament. Winning the Competitive League Cup was NMCC student Gab Cheney’s SRACC team, while the Connect North America team won the Recreational League Cup.